The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce has a new leader.
Kristine Simpson of KPMG — a company which provides audit, tax, and advisory services — took over the the role of president at the 82nd annual general meeting held on Tuesday night at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre.
She replaces outgoing president Angie Quaale.
Simpson was sworn in by Township of Langley mayor Jack Froese, while outgoing Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender led the rest of the Chamber executive in their oath.
“Lynn (Whitehouse, Chamber executive director) is awesome,” Froese told Simpson. “She’ll teach you everything you need to know. Just remember to say ‘yes.’”
Giving her first address as Chamber president, Simpson looked forward to the national Chamber meeting coming up in Kelowna in September, as well as to lobbying the province on transportation funding for the Langleys and strengthening the voice of business in the community.
“I cannot express what big shoes I have to fill,” said Simpson, praising Quaale for her respectful, inclusive and bold leadership, and for the enthusiasm she showed while helping to raise the profile of business in Langley.
Reflecting on her year in office, Quaale, who will remain on the executive as past president, thanked Chamber staff, the rest of the executive and the membership as a whole for their support.
Among the Chamber’s accomplishments she singled out was the “Your Voice Your Vote” campaign, which aimed to see voter turnout in the May provincial election rise by at least five per cent. It exceeded its goal by a substantial margin in both Langley ridings, Quaale noted.